As I wrote on Monday, I mostly eat healthfully. However, I do have a sweet tooth, which I keep under control more often than not. Sometimes, though, I just need to give into the cravings. (Although I do try and schedule cravings for the weekends. I am a person of structure.)

These biscotti are indulgent. Filled with caramelized pecans and topped with butterscotch, they have a good amount of sweet to them. The sprinkling of salt, albeit a small part of the recipe, is key. Without the salt, these treats feel like a non-stop sugar explosion. The tiniest amount of salt puts the sugar into check.

One of the things that I love about biscotti is their long shelf life. I’ve been shipping them to faraway family members for a long time. Now that I have a son who is 2,000 miles away, it’s one homemade sweet treat that I know will survive the trip. On the other hand, the batch that I sent to the office was gone within minutes. Yay for treats that are good right away and a week later.

The funny thing about biscotti is that so many people don’t make their own. They’re a treat ordered at a coffee shop or are bought through an online shop. What surprises me about this is that these are simple cookies to make. Shape dough into loaves, and bake. Slice into wedges, and bake again. Maybe it’s a bit more work than a drop cookie, but they’re definitely easier than shaped sugar cookies.

If you have some free time, biscotti are worth making at home. They could be a fabulous part of Sunday brunch, a simple dessert after dinner, or a fine treat with a cup of tea in the afternoon. Plus, as I mentioned, they store incredibly well, so you can make a batch and have it on hand for weeks. (Alternately, you could share them with friends, and devour them right away!)

Caramelized Pecan Biscotti with Salted Butterscotch Glaze

2017-08-23 18:49:19

Yields 24

A crunchy, salty, and sweet treat perfect for almost any time of day

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Prep Time

25 min

Cook Time

1 hr

Total Time

1 hr 25 min

Prep Time

25 min

Cook Time

1 hr

Total Time

1 hr 25 min

Ingredients

⅓ cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans

1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened

1-1/4 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

3/4 cup butterscotch chips

1 Tb. shortening

Sea salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350

Heat large nonstick frying pan over medium heat.

Add brown sugar, stirring constantly, about 2 minutes, until it starts to melt.

Add pecans, continuing to stir, for an additional 2 minutes, or until sugar clings to pecans.*